Arrange Marriage: Destined?

31: You Are My Strength

(Third Party)

Picture perfect. Dining room. Dining table. Friends. Fun. Excitement.

Everybody gathered around the dining table to share the cake that Ms. Monique brought. Mamang Josie was seated next to Milz, Sam sat adjacent from Ms. Monique, Alden and Maine across on the other side of the table and Nikko next to Maine. They are a picture of a perfect happiness. With what is going on, Nikko seems so extra quiet and Maine sees it all. His eyes full of worry? Full of pain? Full of excitement? Which one is it? It is so confusing. Maine thought to herself.

Nikko was watching everyone's moves. He listened to everybody's anecdotes, antics and jokes. He would laughed at some of them but he would fall into a complete silence on some stories he heard. Sam tells all without telling everyone directly who Alden really is. Nikko knows that Maine is with whom she needs to be with.

"Kuya, is everything okay? You seemed so awfully quiet there." Maine cut off his thoughts. She hopes he's okay.

"I'm fine. I promise, I'm okay." He plainly said holding her hands.

Just right after Nikko replied, they heard a knock on the door. Everyone looked at the door and looked at each other. Alden and Maine for some reason felt a punch in their chest. They are not liking the sound of the knock, it sounds like a cop knocking on the door, it's banging on the door. Maine looked over her brother and he looked so uneasy.

"Kuya?" Is all she could say. Her shoulder dropped. Alden saw the look in Nikko's face.

"Nikko, is there anything you want to tell us?!" Alden firmly asked and raised his voice a little not for everyone to hear what he said but enough to divert Nikko's attention to him.

"I'm sorry. I tried to lose him a couple of times but it felt like he is everywhere." Agitated and discombobulated, Alden pulled Maine to get up and started to the kitchen when Manang stood up and stopped him.

"Alden! Maine! Stop right there. You two are not running away again. It's time to face this demon that haunts you. I will not tolerate people even if they are your parents, to meddle in this love affair, not while I am alive. I may be just the caretaker but I will not let anything happen to anyone and anything in this house." She sternly stated.

"Me, too." Tita Monique chimed in.

Manang Josie got up and walked towards the door. She looked back at everyone on the dining table. Monique, Milz and Sam are still sitting on the same spot. Nikko was standing next to the chair that he's occupying while Alden and Maine are standing by the kitchen door almost hugging each other. All of their faces are full of anticipation, eagerness and worry.

She opened the door and saw no one out there. She walks cautiously closer to it when an older version of Maine came in everyone's view.

"Nikka! What are you doing here? Why are you here?" Nikko blurted out. He felt relieved but still a little nervous.

(You may be confused as to what really her nickname, Everyone in the Mendoza calls here either Nikki or Nikka, depends on everyone mood.)

"Kuya, Tatay is on his way, Mark overheard that Tatay found out where Meng stays and he was very upset. Nanay is trying to stop him right now but I am not sure if she'll be successful doing so. Is she here?" She asked looking around.

Everyone turned around to look at Maine and Alden but they are not where they were standing. They just disappeared. Manang Josie raised her arm and put it across her chest and tapping her fingers over one arm. Everyone looked at her with caution. She has the look of a disappointed grandmother and everyone in the room felt the dagger coming out of it, only if those daggers are real... They are all dead.